Israeli army confirms airstrike on Hamas vehicle in Gaza

JERUSALEM, June 27 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli aircraft attacked a car belonging to Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, a statement by the Israeli military said.

Earlier reports said an Israeli army drone fired at least one missile at a car belonging to an Islamic Hamas militant at the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza Strip, damaging the vehicle.

The Israeli statement confirmed the attack and said the vehicle belonging to a Hamas operative "heavily involved in launching arson and explosive balloons from the Gaza Strip into Israel."

The attack also struck two observation posts affiliated to Hamas, a Palestinian Islamic movement that controls Gaza.

There were no immediate reports of injuries in the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Israel's Iron Dome anti-rocket system has identified and shot down at least two rockets fired from Gaza to southern Israel, the statement added.

Local reports said militants have fired at least eight rockets from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel, but no injuries or damage in Israel was reported.

The incident is part of escalating violence since March 30 when Palestinians rallied in Gaza near the fence separating the enclave and Israel to protest the crippling blockade.

Israeli forces reacted to the protest with live fire, killing at least 130 Palestinians. The United Nations and international human rights groups have condemned Israel for an excessive use of force against mostly unarmed protestors.